Brynmally Colliery inrush, 1856

On Tuesday 30 September 1856 water from old workings broke into the No. 3 pit of Clayton and Darlington's Brynmally Colliery near Wrexham and drowned thirteen men. The first body was not reached for almost four weeks, and a pitman was killed during the pumping.

Cause

An inrush of water, the inspector concluded, from old workings on the Yord estate.

Contributing factors

Unknown.

What happened

The water broke into the No. 3 pit on the Tuesday. Of the thirteen drowned, ten left widows and children: among them Edward Cunnah, 26, Steven Davies, 28, Ishmael Evans and Ishmael Griffiths, each with four children, and Thomas Lewis, 36; the youngest was Samuel Parry, a boy of fifteen.

Rescue & recovery

Pumping went on for weeks. On 8 October the pumping apparatus failed, and while it was being repaired the capstan chain fell on the head of the pitman Robert Kendrick, who left a wife and six children. The first body was not recovered until 26 October.

Investigation & inquiry

At the inquest the Government Inspector gave his opinion that the water came from the old works in the Yord estate.

Legal & regulatory aftermath

Accidental death.

Changes to practice & legislation

Unknown.

Memorials & commemoration

Unknown.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• An inundation of water, supposed to have come from old workings, killed twelve men and one of the rescuers. (disputed) ¹

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• An inundation of water, supposed to have come from old workings, killed twelve men and one of the rescuers. (disputed) ¹
• Water broke into the No. 3 pit on 30 September 1856 and 13 lost their lives; the first body was not recovered until 26 October; Robert Kendrick was killed on 8 October when the capstan chain fell on him during pump repairs. ²
• Inquest: accidental death; the inspector thought the water came from old works in the Yord estate. ²

Related terminology

Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.

• Capstan (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s rescue and recovery: “…the pumping apparatus failed, and while it was being repaired the capstan chain fell on the head of the pitman Robert Kendrick, who left a…”
• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s summary: “…broke into the No. 3 pit of Clayton and Darlington's Brynmally Colliery near Wrexham and drowned thirteen men. The first body was not…”
• Inrush (direct cause)
  Water from old workings.

Sources

1. (secondary) Brynmally Colliery Inrush - Wrexham - 1856 — Northern Mine Research Society
2. (secondary) Brynmally Colliery, Moss, near Wrexham — Welsh Coal Mines

Record created: 21 September 2026 · Last researched: 21 September 2026